Flexible sleeve iris valve



Dec. 22, 1953 w. DOUGLASS ET AL 2,663,467

FLEXIBLE SLEEVE IRIS VALVE Filed July 19, 11947 2 Shegts-Sheet l F/OQI.

F/C.3. F/C.5.

' lnuentou' ill-e4 M Mia-2L! W. DOUGLASS ET AL FLEXIBLE SLEEVE IRIS VALVE Dec. 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1947 FIG/O.

FIGS.

FIG/3.

Patented Dec. 22, 1953 FLEXIBLE SLEEVE IRIS'VALVE Walt Douglass and ande harle Ellis,

ddlesex, Eg a Application July 19, 1947, Serial No.- 7 62. 072

This invention relates to means for controlling the flow of materials and is particularly, though not exclusively, intended for interrupting the downward flow of divided material, such as flaky gelatine.

It has already been proposed to control the delivery of material from a hopper by providing a sleeve of flexible material which is distended between relatively rotatable rings, the sleeve being disposed vertically below the hopper and being adapted to interrupt the flow of material upon rotation of one or both of the rings. Owing to the use of a distended tube, the prior proposalnecessitates the provision of guide means which permits vertical movement of the bottom ring during rotation thereof to twist the tube to a closed condition. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of flexible sleeve valve which eliminates the guiding means of the prior proposal and which can be utilised where there is only a relativelyrestricted space-below the hopper or other receptacle for-the material.

Another object of the-invention is to provide a valve in which a flexible sleeve folded back on itself is connected to a pair of relatively rotatable rings which are protected against contamination by the material during passage through the sleeve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fabric sleeve valve which according to-the material selected for the sleeve can be used for controlling the flow of a wide variety of materials whether gaseous, liquid or solid.

A still further object of the invention -is to provide avalve composed of few parts, simple in construction and embodying-a flexible sleeve which is readily detachable for substitution by another sleeve.

Yet a further object of the invention is to pro vide a flexible sleeve valve in whichduring operation to interrupt the=flow of material the sleeve becomes twisted to a substantial iris diaphragm form.

These and other objects ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description.

A preferred form of the invention. as applied to a hopper or mixer for hard gelatinein leafy or flaky form will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanyin drawings in which:

Fig-,1 is a cross sectional elevation of a sleeve valvefitted beneath the lowe narto mix n ho pe Fi -21s. a sect ona -p enview on the ine I1 II,

(Cl. age-5m) Fig. .3 is .a -ner.spective-,-view.showi ezthenleeme in a partly closedposition. I p

Fig. 4 is a plan correspondingtoaflig-a Fig. 5 is a perspective viewrshowing.thesleeve completely closed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view corresponding to.;Fig..:f5

Fig. 7 is a crosseseetionalelevation of aehiopper fitted with-a modified form of valve, according to the invention, the flexiblesleeve being constituted by a multiplicity of chains.

Fig. 8 is a sectional .plan' view .on the :line VIII-V1110]? Fig. 7.

Figs. 9 and 11 are. diagrammatic. views showing the flexible sleeve valve according to Figs. Land 8 partially open.

Figs. 10 and 12 are diagrammaticviews-showing the flexible sleeve-valve of.Figs. land-.8 conipletely closed. 6

Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating. an alternative form of flexible sleeve forusein-thevetlve. according to the invention.

lhe lower'end eta-mixinghopperl forhand gelatine in flaky formis provided witha fixedv ring 2 bolted to the hopper. Another ring 3.-xlisposed co-axially with the ring 2 is memnted= -lc elow.land close to the ring 2 uponaretainingringJ which is also bolted tothe hopper I 'Oneend S ot a sleeve of flexible material 6 is secured-totheupper surface of the ring 2-by means of a -fillet-ring l whichis shaped internally-to provideasmooth continuation of the interior -sloping -wall I of the hopper l. The sleeve 6 is 'folded back on itself andis secured atitsother end- 8 byme'ansfoi. a clamping ring 9 to the' lowersurface of antinwardly directed flange ofthering 3.

Thefull length of the sleeve compared with its diameter is preferably chosens thatthe sleeve can be twisted fromthefully opengposition illustrated in Fig.1 to the fully'closed position illustrated in Figs; 5 and-6 in-less'than one complete revolution of the ring 3 in eitherfdirection. Ifo effect this, the full length of the sleeve. should be slightly greater thanthe diameter thereof. To facilitate rotation of thering-3, it maybe provided with a depending circularflangeflfl to which a hand wheel H is secured. Said hand whee1 H functionsias a control means to vary flit/valve e iri ir i l l e? i fi ll j l ss position.

'h 's b en iqua tha a va v o ji ii .9 f t th a seventeen. sir x ..=..1fabr.i9 .g9 as wi anh verv re a ned-u ed -mi n h wnw rd wv eim i ekwl tine rom ter. B.y field n t at. si bac a itsel tad eQ EPWQ Q messe t si 1 materials, such as lumps of coal. throat a stationary ring I3 is secured to a flanged rings 2, 3, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, it is impossible for the material to get into and clog the moving parts. This is of considerable advantage where adherent materials, such as flaky gelatine are controlled by the valve, as when metal slide valves are used for interrupting the flow of this material they very quickly become clogged and require the use of considerable pressure to operate them and also frequent cleaning.

A further advantage arising from folding the sleeve back on itself and connecting it to the rings 2, 3, as illustrated, is that the sleeve can be opened and closed without involving an endwise relative movement of the rings. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the condition of the sleeve in a partly closed condition whereas Figs. 5 and 6 show the sleeve completely closed in which it is a substantially taut diaphragm. In practice, particularly where the material to be controlled is flaky gelatine, it may not be necessary for the sleeve to be closed fully since in closing it binds on the material falling through the hopper and effectively interrupts the flow.

The invention is not limited to the specific construction hereinbefore described in which the upper ring 2 is fixed and the lower ring 3 is re tatable; if desired the lower ring 3 can be fixed and the upper ring made rotatable. Alternatively, both rings may rotate together in opposite directions to effect opening and closing of the sleeve. Further, instead of mounting the rings 2, 3 in superposed relation, as'illustrated, they may be mounted concentrically with respect to each other.

Although the present invention is particularly useful for controlling the outlet of a mixer for flaky gelatine, it will be appreciated that the cut-ofi valve can be applied to a variety of uses, and in general can be used for controlling the flow of other solid materials, such as grain, sand, or the like. Also, by a suitable choice of material for the flexible sleeve, the cut-off valve may be used for liquids such as treacle, tar, acids, and the like.

It has been found by practical experience that a sleeve made of flexible material, such as strong fabric, is completely efficient for controlling or interrupting the flow of a wide variety of gaseous, liquid and solid materials. The form of the invention illustrated by Figs. 7-12 comprises a modification which is particularly suitable for controlling or interrupting the flow of solid materials such as coal, coke, coarse gravel, and other materials of similar bulk.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate a hopper l2 for bulky Below its ring it of the hopper throat l5. The stationary .ring is provided with three inwardly directed flanges I5 which support a rotatable ring I! situated below and co-axial with respect to the stationary ring 2. The ring ll is also partly supported by a detachable flange is secured by a bolt [9 to the ring 13. The flange !8 is applied after the ring I! has been seated on the flanges IE. 'The inner peripheries of both rings are pro- 'vided with an equal number of drilled holes 29.

Fig.8, to receive the ends of a plurality of metal chains 2! of equal length. The assembly of rings and chains constitutes a valve. When the valve is in the open position each chain is suspended from the rings in festoon form as indicated in Fig. '7. The chains, as an assembly, constitute in effect a sleeve of flexible material folded back on itself and secured at its ends to the rings.

The rotatable ring 11 is provided with a fin piece 22 by means of which it may be rotated to close the valve without involving any axial movement of the rings I3, 51 with the result that the chain festoons are crowded together in a volute form below the hopper throat to interrupt the flow of the material from the hopper. The piece 22 functions as a control means to vary the valve opening from its fully open to its fully closed position. In such position of the valve, the chains exert a throttling action on any piece, or pieces, of material that get caught in the chains. When the valve is opened by turning the rotatable ring in the opposite direction, the chains assume their normal festooned form. Figs. 9 and 11 diagram matically illustrate the valve partially closed, while Figs. 10 and 12 illustrate it completely closed. The full length of the chain sleeve compared with its diameter is preferably so chosen that the sleeve can be twisted from the fully open position, Fig. 7, to the fully closed position, Figs. 10 and 12, in less than one complete revolution of the ring l1.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of a flexible sleeve composed of chains as the multiplicity of flexible elements constituting it may take other forms. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 13, the sleeve is made of flexible material, such as strong fabric, slit longitudinally to provide a multiplicity of narrow strips 23. The slits 24 terminate short of the sleeve ends to provide bands 25, 26 which are secured to the rings I3, I I after the sleeve has been folded back on itself.

In operation, a valve constructed with such a sleeve operates in substantially the same way as that illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

It will be appreciated that, as in the case of the construction disclosed in Figs. l-6, the lower ring may be stationary and. the upper ring may be rotatable. Alternatively, both rings may be mounted to rotate together in opposite directions to effect opening and closing of the valve. Further, both rings, instead of being in superposed relation, as is preferred, may be mounted concentrically with respect to each other.

We claim:

1. A container comprising a tubular member, a tubular collar telescoped over said tubular mem her and rotatable with respect thereto, the upper edge of said collar lying in substantially the same plane as the upper edge of said tubular member, a tubular piece of flexible material forming a closure for one end of said container, one end of said tubular piece of flexible material being attached to said tubular member, and the other end being attached to said collar with a loose,

unattached portion between said attached ends,

said loose, unattached portion being folded backwardly on itself and puckering inwardly on rotation of said collar relative to said tubular member to form a diaphragm consisting of folds converging toward the center of said tubular member, and means to prevent longitudinal movement of said collar relative to said tubular member when said collar is rotated thereon, which said means also serves to limit the rotating movement of said collar with respect to said tubular member.

2. A flow control device, comprising, in combination, a pair of rings; means for locating said rings in adjacent coaxial relationship; means for angularly moving at least one of said rings with respect to the other; means for preventing an axial movement of said rings with respect to each other; a flexible sleeve, said sleeve being composed of a plurality of flexible elements each folded back on itself so as to define a flow passage; means for attaching one end of said sleeve to one of said rings along a first line of attachment; and means for attaching the other end of said sleeve to the other of said rings along a second line of attachment located near to and at a distance from said first line of attachment which is substantially smaller than the length of said flexible sleeve, whereby by an angular movement of said rings with respect to each other said sleeve may be twisted from a condition in which the flow device is open to a substantial diaphragm form so as to regulate the effective diameter of said flow passage.

3. A flow control device, comprising, in combination, a pair of rings; means for locating said rings in adjacent coaxial relationship; means for angularly moving at least one of said rings with respect to the other; means for preventing an axial movement of said rings with respect to each other; a flexible sleeve, said sleeve being composed of a plurality of flexible chains each folded back on itself so as to define a flow passage;

means for attaching one end of said sleeve to one of said rings along a first line of attachment; and means for attaching the other end of said sleeve to the other of said rings along a second line of attachment located near to and at a distance from said first line of attachment which is substantially smaller than the length of said flexible sleeve, whereby by an angular movement of said rings with respect to each other said sleeve may be twisted from a condition in which the flow device is open to a substantial diaphragm form so as to regulate the efiective diameter of said flow passage.

4. A flow control device comprising a pair of rings, bearing means for seating said rings in adjacent coaxial relationship, a flexible sleeve folded back on itself to define a flow passage, perimetral attaching means for securing one end of said sleeve to one of said rings along a first line of attachment, a second perimetral attaching means for securing the other end of said sleeve to the other of said rings along a second line of attachment, and flange means engaging selected of said rings for preventing axial movement of said rings in either direction on said bearing means but permitting relative rotary movement to twist said sleeve and form an iris valve operable from fully open to fully closed position while said flange means holds said rings against axial movement.

5. A flow control device comprising a pair of rings, bearing means for seating said rings in adjacent coaxial relationship, flange means engaging selected of said rings for preventing axial movement of said rings in either direction on said bearing means but permitting relative rotary movement of said rings, a flexible sleeve folded back on itself to define a flow passage, perimetral attaching means for securing one end of said sleeve to one of said rings along a first line of attachment, a second perimetral attaching means for securing the other end of said sleeve to the other of said rings along a second line of attachment, and control means for angularly moving at least one of said rings with respect to the other in one direction to twist said sleeve and form a diaphragm to fully close the opening through the said rings and in the other direction to regulate the effective opening through said rings to its fully open position while being held against axial movement by said flange means.

6. A flow control device comprising a pair of rings, bearing means for seating said rings in adjacent coaxial relationship, a control means for angularly moving at least one of said rings with respect to the other on said bearing means, flange means engaging selected of said rings for preventing axial movement of said rings in either direction on said bearing means but permitting relative rotary movement of said rings, a flexible sleeve folded back on itself to define a flow passage, a perimetral attaching means for securing one end of said sleeve to one or said rings along a first line of attachment, and a second perimetral attaching means for securing the other end of said sleeve to the other of said rings along a second line of attachment, said second perimetral attaching means having its line of attachment located closely adjacent to the first line of attachment to produce a load bearing diaphragm substantially in the plane of said rings when said control is moved in one direction to fully close the flow passage and when moved in the opposite direction to regulate the effective open diameter of the flow passage through said rings while said flange means holds said rings against axial movement.

WALTER DOUGLASS. ALEXANDER CHARLES ELLIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,431,918 Arthur Oct. 1'7, 1922 1,986,484 Schlueter Jan. 1, 1935 2,405,682 Bogoslowsky Aug. 13, 1946 

